Five years since Senator Leila de Lima was detained, we have seen how languishing is the pace of her trial. Her continuing detention was based on accusations linking the Senator to illegal drug trade. Recently, two witnesses who claimed Senator de Lima’s involvement retracted their statements and cleared her name.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) finds it gravely concerning that there is a possibility that an innocent person has been detained for half a decade due to false, fabricated statements. It is equally unsettling that the said accusations against the Senator were made because the witnesses were allegedly pressured, coerced, intimidated, and threatened by government officers. If proven, people behind the intimidation and threat should be identified and held accountable.

It bears noting that the right to a speedy, impartial, and public trial is a fundamental human right for everyone accused of committing an offense. In this case, due process and the rule of law also dictates that, given this development, the government has the obligation to ferret out the truth and move towards the release of the detained Senator should it be proven that the charges against her rest on lies.

CHR urges the government to respect and protect the Constitutional rights of the Senator, including her right to due process and presumption of innocence. We hope that the wheels of justice turn faster for Senator de Lima, including for all persons deprived of liberty, awaiting resolution of their trials. CHR stresses that for every day that an innocent person remains in detention is a criticism against the ability of the government in fulfilling its obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. Upholding human rights equally requires upholding truth and justice at all time, for all individuals—even for one’s strongest critics. ###